Bowling pin holder device



Nov. 26, 1968 A. SCHMID 3,412,999

BOWLING PIN HOLDER DEVICE Filed Nov. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 F a x,

3 INVENTOR August Sclmi BY M- ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1968 A. SCHMID BOWLING PIN HOLDER DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19-34 INVENTOR August Sdm i ATTORNEY 1968 A. SCHMID 3,412,999

BOWLING PIN HOLDER DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 3

INVENTOR August 5 1 BY M ATTORNEY A. SCHMID Nov. 26, 1968 BOWLING PIN HOLDER DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov.

' INVENTOR August Qdmi J IIhA-Il [IL M ATTORNEY A. SCHMID 3,412,999

BOWLING PIN HOLDER DEVICE Nov. 26, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 4, 1934 Fig. 9

Augusil. Sum? ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1968 Filed Nov. 4, 1954 A. SCHMID BOWLING PIN HOLDER DEVICE 6 Shets-Sheet e 24 24 3a 39 39 I) K O/ W? Fig. 11

39 24 39 24 g a? K I v [I Fig. 12

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,412,999 BOWLING PIN HOLDER DEVICE August Schmid, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland, assignor to Patentverwertungsund Finanzierungsgesellschaft Serania AG., Glarus, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 408,890 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Nov. 11, 1963, 13,804/63 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-42) The present invention has reference to improved bowling pin holder devices for the receipt of bowling pins at an up and down movable pin setting carriage.

The present invention is generally characterized by the features that there are provided bowling pin-support elements which are pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis through an angle greater than 90, holding means for holding the bowling pins at their respective support element, and releasing elements for releasing such holding means after completion of the tilting or pivoting of the bowling pins into their erected position.

Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved bowling pin holder device which receives a bowling pin and effectively rotates such into proper position for setting upon the pin spotting section of a bowling alley.

Another important object of the present invention concerns itself with bowling pin holder devices mounted at a displaceable pin setting carriage, each holding device incorporating a pivotable support member for receiving a bowling pin, means for retaining each bowling pin upon its support member, and means for releasing the retaining means when the associated bowling pin has been rocked into an erected position for setting upon a bowling alley.

A further noteworthy object ofthis invention is directed to improved means for receiving the bowling pins in positive and reliable manner at a substantially vertically displaceable carriage, such means being relatively simple and robust in construction, economical to manufacture, and substantially troublefree in operation.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates an elevationally displaceable pin setting carriage in which there are mounted the bowling pin holder devices of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken through the stationary frame portion disposed above the carriage of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a pin holder device of the present invention located in a position for receiving a bowling pin;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the pin holder device of FIGURE 3 depicted in a position after partial rotation thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the pin holder device of FIGURE 3 after it has pivoted into a position where the bowling pin is disposed in erected position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, yet with the carriage located in its lowermost position at which time the pin holding or engaging element of the pin holder device is released from the associated bowling pin;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 6, however here the carriage is carrying out an upward movement, at which time the holding element has completely released the bowling pin;

FIGURE 8 is a view of a single pin holder device as seen in the direction of arrow A of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the pin holder device viewed in the direction of the arrow B of FIGURE 8,

ice

with the linkage members of the holder element thereof being omitted to improve clarity of illustration; and

FIGURES 10 to 13 depict the workings of the actuation mechanism in order to rotate the pin holder device into different positions.

The inventive pin holder device hereinafter to be described in detail essentially serves to erect or set the bowling pins falling in inclined position and with the head portion leading into a vertical displaceable pin setting carriage, at their exact predetermined location or spot upon the bowling alley. Under the term cableless pin setting machines there is to be understood such an installation at which the bowling pins to be erected, after the completion of a throw of the bowling ball, are not pulled-up by cables or pulled-back to their required place of erection by cables connected to the base of the pins.

As best seen by referring to FIGURE 1, a stationary frame 1 is provided at the rear end of a non-illustrated bowling alley. An elevationally displaceable pin setting carriage 2 is connected by means of bars or struts 3 and 4 to this stationary frame 1. The struts 3 and 4 cross one another in scissor-like fashion approximately in the middle and they are pivotably connected with one another by means of a pivot bolt 5. The lower end of the strut 3 slides in a slot 7 of the carriage 2, for which purpose a bolt 8 connected with this lower end of strut 3 engages with the aforesaid slot 7. A similar construction is provided at the upper end of the strut member 4 in that a bolt 9 extends into a horizontal slot or recess 10- provided at the frame 1. It will be appreciated that a similar construction and arrangement of strut members 3 and 4 is provided at the other side of the carriage 2.

This pin setting carriage 2 is supported by two laterally disposed lifting elements e.g. chains 11 (only one of which is visible in FIGURE 1) and by means of these chains is moved up and down, this movement being achieved by rotation of a shaft 12 to which is rigidly connected an eccentric 13 associated with each chain 11. During rotation of the shaft 12 each chain 11 is wrapped on and off its associated eccentric 13, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 12. In the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 the carriage 2 is in its lowered position, during which time the bowling pins 14 are placed upon the bowling alley. The aforedescribed physical structure of the mounting of the carriage 2 is set forth in greater detail in my co-pending United States application Ser. No. 408,889, filed Nov. 4, 1964, entitled Apparatus for Setting Bowling Pins Upon a Bowling Alley, now abandoned, with only enough of the construction being given herein to enable one skilled in the art to fully appreciate the underlying principles of the subject invention.

In preparing for the charging or loading of the pin setting carriage 2 with the required number of bowling pins 14, the latter are initially disposed in parallelism next to one another while lying upon the front end of the frame 1 and are displaced onto a base plate 15 in the direction of the arrow C by means of a slider or pusher member 13 (see FIGURE 2). This base plate 15is provided with vertical side walls 16 so that for each bowling pin 14 there is formed a trough or well 16a by means of which the latter guides the bowling pin to its predetermined location. These troughs or wells 16a are advantageously curved such that they positively guide the associated bowling pins 14 to their aforesaid predetermined location. It will be appreciated that the curvature is dependent upon the type of bowling, and changes in the event bowling is carried out with nine or ten pins and if the setting or spotting of the pins takes place in rectangular or tringular array, respectively. At the floor of each trough or well 1641 there is provided an opening 17 through which the relevant bowling pin 14 slides head first. In so doing, each bowling pin 14 then arrives at a slide 18 (FIGURE 2), finally being received in the thus assumed inclined position by an associated pin holder device, generally designated by reference numeral 20, as best seen by referring to FIGURE 3.

This pin holder device 20 is located somewhat beneath the slide 18, so that the bowling pin 14, when it has assumed the holding position depicted in FIGURE 3, no longer extends into the zone of the associated slide 18. More specifically, each pin holder device 20 possesses a receiving bowl or pin support member 21 which is generally accommodated in form to the external shape of the bowling pins 14, in other words, is wider at its central region than at its forward portion. When the bowling pin 14 assumes this position its head 14:: bears at the front against lever means 22 mounted to pivot or rock about a pivot shaft 23 (see FIGURE This pivot shaft 23 is guided by the housing 23a of the pin holder device 20.

A respective rod or shaft 24 is rigidly connected with the pin holder device 20 somewhat beneath the throat 14b of the bowling pin 14. These rods or shafts 24, which extend substantially horizontally, are rotatably mounted at both of their ends at the pin spotting carriage 2. Furthermore, each pin holder device 20 is provided with a pressure plate 25, the function of which will be more fully explained hereinafter, with the surface of such pressure plate 25 being located in substantially horizontal position when the aforesaid pin holder device 2t) is in the position depicted in FIGURE 3.

The function of each pin holder device 20 is to pivot the associated bowling pin 14 such that it comes into an erect position, so that it can be properly deposited upon the pin spotting or setting section of the bowling alley. In so doing, there must be prevented release of the bowling pin 14 from the supporting or receiving bowl 21 during this pivoting movement. After the bowling pin 14 has been deposited upon the bowling alley it must, of course, be released by its associated pin holder device 20.

For this purpose the following arrangement is employed: In the position of the pin holder device 20 depicted in FIGURE 3 the lever member or means 22 lies against a stop or impact member 26 located at the pin setting carriage 2, contacting of the lever member 22 with the stop member 26 taking place via a transverse rod 27 mounted to the lower end 27a of the aforesaid lever member 22. A connecting lever 28 is hingedly connected via a pivot bolt 29 to the opposite end 271) of the lever member 22. This connecting lever 28 is again pivotably connected via pivot bolt 2% with a support or holder arm 30, the latter in turn being pivotably mounted at the housing 23a of the pin holder device 20 'by means of a pivot bolt 31. The end 30a of the holder arm or clamping lever 30 neighboring the bowling pin 14 is connected with a bolt 32 provided to bear against the throat 14b of the aforesaid bowling pin 14. It will be appreciated that at the opposite non-visible side of the bowling pin 14 there is also provided a respective holder arm 30, connecting lever 28 and lever means 22. In the desecription to follow reference will only be made to a respective one of these elements since they are symmetrically arranged.

As best seen in FIGURE 6 the lever means 22 is pulled in a direction towards the pivotable shafts or rods 24 by means of a spring 33 which is fixedly connected internally of the pin holder device 20. The end 3012 of the holder or clamping arm 30 directed away from the bolt 32 cooperates with a locking flap 34. This locking flap 34 is freely rotatable about a pin 35 and moves in accordance with the force of gravity acting thereupon.

The mode of operation of this described mechanism is as follows: After the bowling pins 14 have been displaced from a suitable pin reservoir or magazine in the direction of the arrow C and have arrived at each associated pin holder device 20 provided for a respective bowling pin 14, all of the bowling pins 14 together with their pin holder device 20 are simultaneously rotated in the direction of the arrow K by means of the shafts or rods 24, whereby initially the position depicted in FIGURE 4 is achieved. Due to this pivoting or rocking movement motion the transverse bar or rod 27 comes out of engagement with the stop or impact member 26, whereby the lever means 22 can perform a small relative r0- tation in the direction of the arrow P. As a result, the holder arm or clamping lever 30 also moves in the direction of the arrow 0 and thereby arrives through the highest location of the head 14a of the bowling pin 14, moving into the region of the neck 14b thereof, so that the bolt 32 fixedly clamps the aforesaid pin head.

In so doing, the locking flap 34 loosely depends in downward direction. With further rotation of the pin holder device 20 and the bowling pin 14 in the direction of the arrow K, there is finally reached the position depicted in FIGURE 5 where the longitudinal axis of this bowling pin extends substantially vertically. Nothing has changed as regards the aforedescribed pin holder linkage system when moving from the position of FIGURE 4 into the position of FIGURE 5, with the exception that the locking flap 34 now loosely bears against the near end 30!; of the holder or clamping arm 30. During further downward movement of the pin setting carriage 2 together with the aforedescribed pin holder devices 20, the bowling pins finally come to rest upon the non-illustrated floor or pin spotting section of the bowling alley.

The pin setting carriage 2 is advantageously constructed such that it can still move further downwards past this aforementioned postion, the pins remaining at their predetermined location or spot. During further downward movement of the pin setting carriage 2 and therewith also the pin holder devices 20, the lever means 22 is now upwardly pressed against the action of the spring 33, specifically in the direction of the arrow D (FIGURE 6). Due to this rocking of the lever means 22 about the pivot shaft 23 the holder or clamp arm 30 is also raised upwards, more specifically, until approximately reaching the region of the pin head 14a. In consequence of this lifting movement the iocking flap 34 falls down and thus arrives above the rear end 30b of the aforesaid holder arm 30.

After the lowermost position of the pin setting carriage 2 has been reached there occurs a reverse movement, so that this carriage 2 is again raised. The previously described operation then occurs in reverse sequence, in other words, the lever means 22 again begins to lower and thereby also the holder arm 30.

However, since the downwardly depending locking flap 34 prevents rocking back of the holder or gripper arm 30 into the position of FIGURE 5, this holder arm 30 thus remains in that position at which it is approximately at the greatest distance from the associated pin head 14a, the latter thereby being released. The spring 33 strives to pull the lever means 22 downwards whereby, however, such movement is limited by the locking flap 34 since it bears against the rear end 30b of the holder arm 30 and remains in its position when the carriage 2 and the pin holder devices 20 move upwards. In this manner, all of the bowling pins 14 are deposited upon their provided place, the empty supporting bowls 21 together with the carriage 2 are thereafter raised, with a vertical intermediate compartment or space remaining between the respective head 14a of the pins 14 and the carriage 2.

During the course of the upward movement of the pin setting carriage 2 there occurs a return pivotal movement of the empty pin receiving or supporting bowls 21 into the starting position depicted in FIGURE 3. However, in order that the pivoting movement does not already start at the beginning of the upward movement, special measures are provided to ensure for this so-called time-delay. Now, in FIGURES to 13 there are illustrated the elements which effect pivoting of the shafts or bars 24. For the sake of simplicity in illustration only two such shafts 24 are illustrated; yet in reality a plurality of the same are provided. A displaceable lever means 38 commonly associated with all shafts or rods 24 is located internally of the pin setting carriage 2. This displaceable lever 38 is operatively connected with a respective flap 39. This flap 39 is suspended at a bolt 40 and is pivotably connected to the displaceable lever 38. The shafts or rods 24 are rotatably mounted at their ends in the carriage 2. The displaceable lever 38, on the other hand, is only carried via the flap 39 by the shafts 24. The bolt memher 8 at the lower end of the strut member 3 which extends into the elongated recess or slot 7 of the carriage 2, by virtue of its movement in the aforesaid slot effects a lengthwise displacement of this displaceable lever 38.

More specifically, in FIGURE 10 there is illustrated the mutual position of the components in the lower terminal position of the carriage 2, namely, after depositing of the bowling pins 14 upon the bowling alley. In this position of the carriage 2 the bolt member 8 is disposed beneath a projection or leg 41 of the displaceable lever 38. Now, if the carriage 2 is raised, then, the bolt member 8 moves in the direction of the arrow E, that is, in horizontal direction, since such is determined by the shape of the slot 7 provided at the carriage 2, and without the previous assumed position of the displaceable lever 38 first changing somewhat. Only after the bolt member 8 has reached the downward extending nose portion 42 of this displaceable lever 38, does subsequent further movement of the aforesaid bolt member 8 in the direction of the arrow E effect an entrainment of the displaceable lever 38, as best seen in FIGURE 11.

As a consequence thereof, the flaps 39 also begin to rock in the direction of the arrow F. The ineffectual or empty stroke which the bolt member 8 carries out between the positions depicted in FIGURES 10 and 11 is determinative for the fact that, the pin holder devices starting from the lowermost terminal position, with the thereafter following upward movement of the carriage 2, do not immediately begin to pivot, whereby there is effectively prevented that the deposited bowling pins 14 will again be knocked over by virtue of such a rocking or pivoting movement of the associated pin holder device 20. After further upward movement of the carriage 2 has taken place, the displaceable lever 38 finally arrives in the position depicted in FIGURE 12 where the pin holder device has again attained its original or starting position depicted in FIGURE 3. It will further be appreciated that the shafts 24 advantageously rock or pivot through an angle between about 110 to 160.

With a renewed downward movement of the pin setting carriage 2 during the course of a new work cycle, there initially does not take place a rocking or pivoting of the displaceable lever 38 until the bolt member 8 has reached the position depicted in FIGURE 13. By virtue of such, there is ensured that in this operating range scanning of the standing bowling pins 14 can take place by means of the pressure plate for the purpose of indicating, by means of a light or visible signal, those pins which are still standing. This pressure plate 25 provided for each pin holder device 20 can also serve the purpose of pressing the bowling pins 14 from time to time against the floor of the bowling alley.

It would, of course, also be possible to achieve the common displacement of the rockable shafts or rods 24 as a function of the elevational position of the pin setting carriage 2 by other means, for example by an electromotor drive arrangement, or by hydraulic or pneumatic lifting units.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an up and down movable pin setting carriage, a pin holder device for each bowling pin, said pin holder device comprising a pin support element, means mounting said pin support element for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis between a position for receiving a bowling pin and a position wherein a pin supported thereby is in a substantially erect position, means for moving said carriage and said pin holder device up and down relative to a bowling alley, holding means for holding the head of a pin to retain the bowling pin upon said pin support element, and means for controlling the operation of said holding means so that the holding means releases the head of the bowling pin in response to further downward movement of said carriage and pin support element after such bowling pin has been pivoted into a substantially erect position and placed on the bowling alley, said controlling means thereafter rendering ineffectual the holding action of said holding means.

2. A pin holder device for a bowling pin comprising a pin support element, means mounting said pin support element for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis between a position for receiving a bowling pin and a position wherein a pin supported thereby is in a substantially erect position, means for moving said carriage and said pin holder device up and down relative to a bowling alley, holding means for holding the head of a pin to retain the bowling pin upon said pin support element, and means for controlling the operation of said holding means so that the holding means releases the head of the bowling pin in response to further downward movement of said carriage and pin support element after such bowling pin has been pivoted into a substantially erect position and placed on the bowling alley, said controlling means thereafter rendering ineffectual the holding action of said holding means.

3. In combination with an up and down movable pin setting carriage, a pin holder device for each bowling pin, said pin holder device comprising a pin support element, means mounting said pin support element for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis between a position for receiving a bowling pin and a position wherein the pin is in a substantially erect position, holding means for retaining the bowling pin upon said pin support element, said holding means for the bowling pin including clamping lever means capable of engaging the neck of said bowling pin, pin head-lever means positioned to bear against the head of said bowling pin, connecting lever means for operatively interconnecting said clamping lever means with said pin head-lever means, and releasing means, and releasing means for rendering ineffectual the holding action of said holding means after the associated bowling pin has been pivoted into a substantially erect position and deposited upon the bowling alley, said releasing means for said holding means incorporating locking means engageable with said clamping lever means when said pin head-lever means is raised, in order to fixedly hold said clamping lever means in a bowling pinreleasing position where it is out of engagement with said bowling pin.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 further including means for pivoting said pin support element as a function of the elevational displacement of said carriage.

5. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting means for said pin support element comprises at least one substantially horizontal shaft which is pivotable through an angle of between about to 6. The combination defined in claim 3, including means for pivotably mounting said clamping lever means, said connecting lever means, and said pin head-lever means.

7. The combination defined in claim 3, further including contact means with which said pin head-lever means cooperates when said pin support element assumes said position for receiving a bowling pin.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said contact means comprises a stationary stop member.

9. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said pin support element is constructed as a bowl-like member open to one side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hedenskoog 273--43 Hedenskoog 27342 Anderson 27343 Montooth et al 273-43 Holloway et a1. 27343 Zuercher 273-42 10 ANTON 0. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. 

2. A PIN HOLDER DEVICE FOR A BOWLING PIN COMPRISING A PIN SUPPORT ELEMENT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID PIN SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS BETWEEN A POSITION FOR RECEIVING A BOWLING PIN AND A POSITION WHEREIN A PIN SUPPORTED THEREBY IS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY ERECT POSITION, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE AND SAID PIN HOLDER DEVICE UP AND DOWN RELATIVE TO A BOWLING ALLEY, HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE HEAD OF A PIN TO RETAIN THE BOWLING PIN UPON SAID PIN SUPPORT ELEMENT, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID HOLDING MEANS SO THAT THE HOLDING MEANS RELEASES THE HEAD OF THE BOWLING PIN IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER DOWNWARD 